Israel agrees to open border crossing with Gaza to bring in more humanitarian aid

The Israeli government on Thursday agreed to open a critical border crossing into the Gaza Strip so as to allow more humanitarian relief aid to enter the coastal territory.

"This increased aid will prevent a humanitarian crisis and is necessary to ensure the continuation of the fighting and to achieve the goals of the war," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said in a statement, per The Hill.

The opening of the Erez checkpoint in northern Gaza will make it the third point of access to the strip. The Kerem Shalom point also connects the strip with Israel while the third, Rafah, borders Egypt.

Israel has faced mounting international scrutiny over its invasion of the Gaza Strip and its handling of the humanitarian situation in the densely populated area. President Joe Biden on Thursday told Netanyahu that American policy would be contingent on Jerusalem's efforts to address humanitarian concerns.

One of the most public points of dispute between Washington and Jerusalem has been Israel's plans to attack Rafah, to which many refugees have flocked to escape the carnage. While Biden has warned Israel against attacking the crossing, Netanyahu has indicated he will do so anyway.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter.